I may be wrong but it’s my understanding that when she finally stops flying (sad day when she does) she was due to go to Duxford.

However I am biased, but I’d love to see her remain at Finningley as a ground runner if possible- ‘558 is related to the station historically, so why not- with regards to hangarage if funding issues were met she would be one of the few Vulcans kept under cover- the last thing needed is another Vulcan kept outside.

On the plus side, she could also bring in greater visitor numbers to a region with one of the oldest, richest and understated aviation heritage sites in the UK – South Yorkshire!!

Whatever her future, and despite all the trials & tribulations, the critisism when she as not been able to fly for one reason or another,staff at TVOC have proved themselves & pushed new boundaries in historic flying by charitable trusts. For all that, at least, they deserve all our thanks.

regards Rad

it sounds like a fair estimate to me, that said should I win the lottery it would remain in the UK without a doubt.

My first thoughts are to Trevor’s family & those who know him- to whoever you are please accept my sincerest condolences.

For those who are part of the Shuttleworth collection family, my thoughs are to you also- the grief of a loss of someone close is a difficult burden to bear or even comprehend under the cicumstances.

Please take comfort from what Trevor did, like all those airshow pilots gone before him was to give pleasure to us in the crowd through their flying.

Long my it continue from Biggleswade- it is what he would want.

Blue skies sir.

Starting to get some great photos back of the airbase so I’ve started splitting them into sections for ease of referencing.

National Archieves offered to photocopy the station ORB for nearly £2000 so politely turned that down – I’ll have to go over and look at it in person.

Turns out the airfield never had an open day – the event in 1958 was an Inter-command aerobatics competition.

Coming soon…
“Call the fire brigade” – NCO tells how to avoid landing on tanks at Gamston, how THREE Meteors crashed on the airfield in one night, details of the fire vehicles at Worksop, skiing on the runway and lots of photos including the control tower!

Hmmm, looking forward to see these chap.:)

Regards, Rad

ME262, purely on the grounds that it looked so good, unlike the Meteor which looked like Wallis & Gromit made it. :p

Steady Eddie!!!

It might have looked like a W & G build, but you can’t deny it was a very much a British export success.:D:D:D

1173410 LAC George Ford. Fitter / Armourer. Enlisted 9th July 1940 aged 20, Demobbed August 1946. Trained at Morecambe (Square Bashing) then Melksham, Wiltshire.

Posted to 149 Squadron at RAF Mildenhall working on Wellingtons, George was posted in July 1941 to 27 Squadron in Northern Malaya, flying Blenheim Mk1’s. From there he went to Ceylon where 160 Squadron were equipped with B24 Liberators before transferring again to 320 Maintenance Unit on which he worked on various aircraft including Thunderbolts.

During his time in the Royal Air Force, George travelled from the UK to Northern Malaya, through Singapore and the Dutch East Indies to Ceylon and India over the course of 4 years, all the while with Far East Command. He now lives in a quiet village in Norfolk where he spent his working life as a farm labourer.

Here’s a link to his first grand day out:

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=28403&highlight=george+ford

Though I never met George, what a wonderful character he must have been to those who did!!! To aknowledge an unsung stalwart in this way has made me sad at his loss, smile with gratitude for his conribution – but thankful that we had people of his mettle when we needed them most. Blue skies Chap.

Can anyone cast any light on the whereabouts or demise of a messerscmitt 109 fuselage that once occupied the front garden of a house in Dorridge Warks, it was situated in the front garden of a house on the junction of Temple road and avenue road during the early/mids 70s, any:rolleyes: info would be appreciated, it may have been a mock up, though a very convincing one!

It’s possible it may have been one of the replica’s made for the Battle of Britain film! I believe MAM had one for a time- but I cannot confirm whether it was the same one or not.

Hope this helps.

regard Rad:).